[Kapitän]

Originally Posted by Kapitän

Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...

+++++

Sunday, 5 October 1941 - Bay of Biscay -

0530 - Morning Dawn.

0558 - Qu.6333BE - Sighted the two inbound neutral steamers according B.d.U.-F.T.1450/4, bearing 341, E=11000, on course ENE, in keel line.

0600 - As the boat is turning north to evade the two steamers on the surface, another inbound steamer is sighted in Qu.1777BF.

0618 - The steamer is identified as a small merchant of 2180ts (later identified as a steamer of 2279ts), draught 5.6m. Is on course 68°, speed 8kn. Boat is overtaking steamer with G.F. on the stbd. side, along the max. field of view.

0643 - Sunrise. Weather unchanged since Etmal, 3.10.
Reducing speed in steps every 5min., to allow the diesel engines to cool down, before diving for a submerged attack.

0700 - Boat is on course 270°, approaching steamer with small silhouette and in ideal attack position: Windward and the rising sun in the back. At E=7000, diving for submerged attack.

0705 - S-Tiefe. "Battle Stations!". Flooding tube III. Altering course to 339°.

0721 - Qu.1774BF - Single Shot with tube III: G7a/G7H (K-a/AZ); Running depth 4m; Vt30. Own course 339°; Own speed 1.6kn.
Target ship: Inbound Small Merchant, draught 5.6m.
Target course 68°; Target distance 715m; Target angle green90°; Target speed 7kn; Firing angle α 350°.

=> The torpedo is a hit under the forward mast, after 39 Sec.!
At first, the steamer continues on but sinks by the stem at 0723h. Some load underwater boiler explosions.

One life boat with 3-4 survivors is seen through the periscope. Boat is staying submerged, as the two neutral steamers are approaching.

0730 - Running off at reception depth and course 270°. "Dismissed from Battle Stations!".

0800 - T=50. Reloading of tube III with G7e/G7H (K-b/AZ) until 0810h.

0830 - Surfaced after 1h 30min. and 3.6sm. Weather unchanged. 2xH.F.

1135 - Qu.3994BE - Sighted the two inbound neutral steamers according B.d.U.-F.T.1500/4, bearing 60, E=16000, on course ENE, in keel line.

1200 - Qu.3994BE - Days Run: 224.6sm - ↗ 215.2 (20h 30') - ↘ 9.4sm (3h 30').
223.6cbm (7.9cbm/24h). 8400Ah. 9 internal torpedoes (6xEto, 3xAto). On course 270°.

1201 - Second status and position request sent by B.d.U. to U 111 (Kleinschmidt).

1301 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
Inbound USA Steamer reported for Qu.2990BE until noon 6 October. Avoid all contact!

1318 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
Inbound USA Steamer reported for Qu.2980BE for late afternoon on 6 October. Avoid all contact!

1819 - Sundown. Weather unchanged since Etmal, 3 Oct.
3/4-Moon rising in the East.

Boat continuing outbound transit acc. Op.-Orders.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.

Started new career in August 2019 to commemorate the beginning of WWII, 80 years before ...

+++++

Monday, 6 October 1941 - Bay of Biscay -

0245 - Outgoing F.T.: To B.d.U.:
5 Oct., 0723h, sunk inbound steamer of approx.2180ts with one Ato, Qu.1774BF. Sighted inbound neutral steamers as reported. Crossed 15°West. Switching to Atlantic-Frequency. Standing Qu.3795BE. 206.6cbm. 6 Eto and 3 Ato internal. SSE6/5, clear, visibility 8-9sm, >1000mb. Continue outbound transit acc. to Op.-Orders. - RST -

0346 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
RST: Very good! Continue acc. to Op.-Orders.

0600 - Morning Dawn.

0701 - Sunrise. East7/6, clear, light haze, good visibility (5-6sm), >1000mb.

0800 - NE7/6, clear, light haze, good visibility (5-6sm), >1000mb.

0831 - Incoming F.T.: From B.d.U.:
The operation against the convoy going south is continuing. Air reconnaissance, however, has still produced no results. As of the afternoon the boats are to continue to operate against the convoy, whose speed of advance was from 4 to 6 knots. The boats are to evenly spread in N.S. lines between 18° and 23° West.

1005 - Reduced speed to 1/3, due to the sea continuously washing over the bridge.

1115 - Qu.2995BE - Evaded reported U.S.A. Steamer on the surface. Bearing 007Stbd., E=8000, on course ENE.

1133 - Incoming F.T.: From U 129:
U-Clausen reporting that it had handed over the ship-wrecked men of the "Kota Pinang" to a Spanish tug.

1200 - Qu.2998BE - Days Run: 275.1sm - (↗ 24h).
202.2cbm (11.4cbm/24h). 8400Ah. 9 internal torpedoes (6xEto, 3xAto). On course 270°.

1202 - Third status and position request sent by B.d.U. to U 111 (Kleinschmidt). The boat is presumed lost.

(U 111 was sunk on 4 October 1941 in the North Atlantic south-west of Tenerife, Canary Islands, in position 27.15N, 20.27W, by depth charges and gunfire from the British anti-submarine trawler HMS Lady Shirley, 8 dead and 44 survivors)

1746 - Qu.2984BE - Diving from reported U.S.A. Steamer. Was already close, bearing 318port, E=5000, on course ENE. Boat remains submerged on reception depth.

1825 - Sundown.

1846 - Surfaced after 1h and 3sm. 8100Ah. Weather unchanged since Etmal. 7/8-Moon rising in the East.

Boat continuing outbound transit acc. Op.-Orders.

RST

Kptlt.&Cmdr.